Sir Walter Raleigh was an English aristocrat, writer, poet, soldier, politician, courtier, spy, and explorer and cousin to Sir Richard Grenville. He is also well known for popularising tobacco in England
Sir Walter Ralegh was famous in several
fields of action. His younger manhood was spent
in the midst of the most brilliant royal court which
English palaces ever held. Later, he proved his
courage and military prowess in more than one
bitterly contested battle-field and naval conflict.
In middle life, and again in old age, he braved the
great deep and the perils of savage lands, in the
sturdy attempt to make discoveries, and to settle
English colonies in the new world. His love of
his own land, and his hatred of her enemies, were
always ardent ; nor did he permit the harsh ill-
treatment to which he was subjected by the hos-
tility of his rivals, the intrigues of Spain, the
caprices of Queen Elizabeth, and the insurmount-
able dislike of King James, to dampen or dull the
fire of his patriotism.
Ralegh was the wittiest man, and one of the
most scholarly men of Elizabeth's court. He was
fond of books ; and as an author, he took rank
with the great literary lights of the Elizabethan
age. Chivalrous in feeling, brave in action, court-
ly in manner, handsome in person, a faithful hus-
band, a devoted father, a valiant soldier, a vigorous
and persevering explorer, and a wise and states-
manlike thinker, his career was full of absorbing
and often exciting interest, as the pages which
follow will doubtless prove it to have been, to those
who read them.
Sir Walter Ralegh was famous in several
fields of action. His younger manhood was spent
in the midst of the most brilliant royal court which
English palaces ever held. Later, he proved his
courage and military prowess in more than one
bitterly contested battle-field and naval conflict.
In middle life, and again in old age, he braved the
great deep and the perils of savage lands, in the
sturdy attempt to make discoveries, and to settle
English colonies in the new world. His love of
his own land, and his hatred of her enemies, were
always ardent ; nor did he permit the harsh ill-
treatment to which he was subjected by the hos-
tility of his rivals, the intrigues of Spain, the
caprices of Queen Elizabeth, and the insurmount-
able dislike of King James, to dampen or dull the
fire of his patriotism.
Ralegh was the wittiest man, and one of the
most scholarly men of Elizabeth's court. He was
fond of books ; and as an author, he took rank
with the great literary lights of the Elizabethan
age. Chivalrous in feeling, brave in action, court-
ly in manner, handsome in person, a faithful hus-
band, a devoted father, a valiant soldier, a vigorous
and persevering explorer, and a wise and states-
manlike thinker, his career was full of absorbing
and often exciting interest, as the pages which
follow will doubtless prove it to have been, to those
who read them.
